Streaking Laurentians closer to nailing down top spot
St. Lawrence undefeated in seven games after a pair of shutout wins at home
The St. Lawrence Laurentians moved closer to clinching first place in Molson Challenge Cup provincial men’s soccer with a pair of weekend wins over visiting Corner Brook Steers Insurance United at Centennial Field.
The defending champion Labatt Laurentians prevailed 1-0 Saturday and followed up with another shutout on Sunday, winning 2-0.
St. Lawrence has won five in a row and is undefeated its last seven outings (5-0-2).
The Laurentians have 12 shutouts in 19 games this season, six each from goalkeepers Patrick Slaney and John Douglas, who both posted one clean sheet against last-place Corner Brook.
The results put St. Lawrence 11 points up on second-place Holy Cross Kirby Group, and even though Holy Cross has six games remaining and two in hand on St. Lawrence, the Laurentians can nail down a first-place finish as early as next weekend. That’s when they host Holy Cross for a pair of games … and if Big Blue comes away with at least a win and a tie, then first place is guaranteed.
Holy Cross played once on the weekend, earning a 1-1 tie with Feildians Ernst and Young on Sunday.
It was Feildians’ second game in as many days. On Saturday, the Double Blues lost 2-0 to the C.B.S. That Pro Look Strikers, who have taken over fourth place and what would be the final playoff spot.
C.B.S. is a point up on Feildians, with a game in hand, and the Strikers are two points behind third-place Mount Pearl First Choice Haircutters.
Mount Pearl’s only game of the weekend came Friday as it played the Gerry O’brien Financial Canada Games team to a 4-4 tie.
It was the last game of the Challenge Cup schedule for the Games team, which participated in the league on an exhibition basis in preparation for the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.
The male soccer competition at the Games begins next weekend.